How to secure a sliding glass door

You love your sliding glass door for the abundance of daylight it brings in and the effortless access it offers to your backyard. These entrances are valuable aspects of any Lansing home, but also present security concerns. Learn why they’re targeted by intruders and what you can do to avoid unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are commonly targeted in Lansing

As attractive as sliding glass doors are to residents, they’re also enticing to burglars. There are a couple of simple explanations. Primarily, they are commonly constructed more for function than security. Many don’t utilize deadbolts, and their locks are usually simple to bypass. Prowlers also have a greater opportunity of approaching undetected as the doors are found at the rear of your residence. 

How do burglars circumvent sliding doors?

During pleasant temperatures and sun-splashed days, your sliding door might be the most-used doorway at your house. You might get in a routine of leaving it open so your little ones can get to the yard on their own. Even if you lock your door, burglars can bypass it. Here’s how:

• Manipulate the lock. Numerous sliding glass doors have standard locks that housebreakers can circumvent with a common tool.
• Break the glass. Prowlers are more likely to smash glass when they’re concealed from view. Some sliding doors have thin glass that’s not hard to smash.
• Force the door from its track. Criminals may try to pry the door out of its track and yank it away from the frame using a crowbar or another tool so they may slip through.

Even though it’s easy to get around sliding glass doors, it’s also easy to boost your security. Discover how you can make it happen.

Better protect your Lansing home’s sliding glass door

If you’re eager to improve the security of one of your Lansing property’s most at-risk entry points, here’s how to do so.

• Incorporate surveillance cameras. When potential intruders spot surveillance, they’ll likely try to find a less secure target. They won’t want to take the chance of being caught on camera. You can even choose surveillance tools that actively discourage lurkers with sound and lights.
• Integrate door sensors. Connect glass break and contact sensors within your whole-home security system. The alarm will go off if an unwanted guest attempts to intrude or break the window. Advanced systems will even notify you with updates to your security system’s smartphone app.
• Add a more secure lock. Replace or complement your standard flip lock with a deadbolt designed for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are fantastic options and straightforward to operate. You could also incorporate a sturdy, keyed deadbolt.
• Install a reinforcement bar. A security bar or brace is a simple solution that provides another layer to your defense. These are often solid wood or metal supports positioned along the bottom door track. Ensure it’s designed properly for a tight fit.

Open the door to better security with a Vivint smart home in Lansing

Better protect your sliding glass door and all the entrances in your home with a fully connected smart home in Lansing from Vivint. We offer all the equipment you need, from window and door sensors to video cameras. If anything activates, you and your 24-hour monitoring experts will be alerted instantly. Call (517) 760-8950 today to get more information and book your professional installation.